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The Christmas season is upon us! It’s a time we choose to set aside to ponder and proclaim that “…unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

For the next few weeks, we will take time to pause and consider the coming of our Savior Jesus—reflecting on the account of His birth and the significance of the greatest gift that God has ever given.

Three of the four Gospels have detailed accounts of the birth of Jesus. This week, we considered the account recorded in Matthew 1. Next week (12/18), we will look at Luke’s account. And then on Christmas Eve, we will look at The Gospel of John. Read ahead!

Join us for worship this Sunday at 10am!

We look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.

Sunday Morning Prayer

9:15-9:45am, Upper Room (2nd Floor)

Gather for a time of prayer before our service on Sunday in the Upper Room (2nd floor). Come pray for Pastor Dom, the service, our church family, our city and other pastors in this city, leaders of our country, and the persecuted Church.

Bring your children! This is where they can learn how to pray with the body.

New Features to the Refuge App

Introducing the Bible tab

We’ve updated the Refuge app with some great new features!

First, is the Bible tab (second icon from the left on the bottom of the screen). Tapping on the Bible icon (1 in the graphic above) will bring the word of God to the palm of your hand! You can select different translations—some translations have an audio feature so you can hear the passage narrated!

We’ve added a link to the Three and One episode to the respective chapter in the Bible portion (2 in the graphic above). Tapping on this element will bring you directly to the Three and One episode for that chapter.

Speaking of Three and One, we’ve added the daily readings to the Plan portion (3 in the graphic above). Tapping on Plan will bring you to a list of the readings for Three and One. Selecting the day’s reading will bring you to the scripture for that day’s Three and One portion to read or listen to (if available in the selected translation).

Don’t have the Refuge app? Download it today—just click the button below on your mobile device or tablet to download the app in your device’s app store.

Don’t forget to check out our Bible study resource page with links to some wonderful Bible teachers, free online resources to help study, and a short & simple break-down of the inductive Bible study method.

Be Encouraged

At the end of the first chapter in Matthew, we read that the Messiah was given two names—Jesus and Immanuel. Two different names with two important meanings, and two answers to two important questions.

Those questions were posed to God by David in Psalm 8: “What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You visit him?” The two names given to the Savior in Matthew 1 are God’s answers to those questions.

“What is man that You are mindful of him?” God’s answer is Jesus, which means “God our salvation”. God is mindful of us because we so desperately need Him!

“And the son of man that You visit him?” God’s answer is Immanuel, which means “God with us”. In order to save us, He has to be with us.

If God knew that our greatest need was money, He would have sent us a banker. If God knew that our greatest need was health, He would have sent a doctor. But God knew our greatest need was salvation, and that’s why He sent us a Savior. And He has gone to incredibly great lengths to show us beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is that Savior that we have been waiting for—and He is able to save you!